Search Results (1,781)

Urban wetlands in coastal cities are under growing strain from urban growth, climate change, and governance that is often fragmented. This study evaluates the condition of the freshwater dune lakes located in the Veracruz–Boca del Río–Medellín conurbation in Mexico, a protected corridor made up of 33 dune lakes that is increasingly pressured by urban expansion. We used an interdisciplinary approach that combined ecological monitoring, legal analysis, and participatory management tools. Fieldwork included 24 h monitoring of dissolved oxygen, measurements of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD₅) in representative systems, a diachronic review of the legal evolution of five Natural Protected Areas (NPAs), and community workshops to jointly design interventions. The results showed strong day–night swings in oxygen (4.0–14.8 mg/L) linked to vegetation dynamics, with nighttime hypoxia posing risks for aquatic fauna. BOD₅ ranged from 4.8 to 150.3 mg/L, pointing to severe organic pollution in the most degraded system. The legal review identified repeated patterns of environmental regression, expressed through reductions in protected polygons, the legalization of irregular settlements, and the fragmentation of protected areas through judicial processes. In response, we propose a hybrid management model that brings together riparian restoration, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), green infrastructure, and participatory monitoring, emphasizing a key 100 m buffer zone. This integrated strategy aims to improve flood regulation, reduce urban heat island effects, and enhance water quality, while also reinforcing community stewardship and legal protection. We conclude that conserving these urban wetlands effectively requires adaptive approaches that connect landscape-scale and local-scale actions, which are essential for climate adaptation in rapidly urbanizing coastal regions. Full article

Solid-state and submerged fermentation (SSF and SmF) were evaluated as bioprocessing strategies to enhance the recovery and bioactivity of phenolic compounds from blueberry bagasse. Fermentation was performed using Aspergillus niger ATCC 6275 and Rhizopus oryzae BIOTEC018, alongside non-inoculated controls. Extracts (SmF filtrate, buffer, methanol, and buffer-methanol) were obtained and analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity over 0–60 h. Methanolic extracts obtained after 24 h of SSF were further selected for profiling of individual phenolics and for intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and cytokine responses. Compared with SmF and non-inoculated controls, SSF—particularly when combined with methanolic extraction—was associated with modified phenolic recovery patterns at 24 h, including increases in TPC and differences in anthocyanin preservation. SSF promoted the accumulation of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols, together with improved preservation of major anthocyanins. These compositional changes translated into higher antioxidant capacity and a marked reduction in ROS and NO levels (≈40–60% of oxidant or LPS controls). Cytokine responses were strain-dependent, indicating regulated immune modulation rather than generalized inflammation. Overall, fungal SSF combined with methanolic extraction modulated the phenolic profile and associated biological responses of blueberry bagasse under laboratory conditions. Full article

Assessing water quality indices (WQIs) derived from physicochemical measurements accurately and efficiently is essential for effective water resource management. However, conventional monitoring approaches based on single-point measurements and limited spatial coverage face constraints in representing large-scale river environments. To address these limitations, this study integrates high-resolution Google Earth RGB imagery with national water quality monitoring data from South Korea to construct an image-based dataset for WQI estimation. Water quality monitoring records from 1762 sampling sites collected between January 2000 and September 2020 were used to calculate WQI values. The index was computed using seven parameters—temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total solids, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, and phosphate—following the standard weighting procedure. Corresponding Google Earth RGB imagery acquired within ±1 day of field measurements over the same 2000–2020 period was compiled, resulting in 34108 image–sample pairs. Based on this integrated dataset, a ResNeXt-based convolutional neural network enhanced with convolutional block attention modules was implemented and applied to estimate WQI values from spatial land-use context and river morphology captured in RGB imagery. The proposed model demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to baseline neural network models, achieving a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.94 and an index of agreement (IOA) of 0.96. Grad-CAM analysis indicates that the model primarily utilizes spatial land-use patterns, riparian context, and river morphology rather than direct visual signals from the water surface itself. These findings suggest that RGB imagery contains spatial information related to observed WQI values. Accordingly, the framework provides a spatially continuous perspective on river conditions that may support large-scale monitoring efforts. Full article

With the expanding frequency range of power equipment, understanding the frequency-dependent insulation performance of air becomes crucial. To address this, this paper establishes an integrated electrical–optical measurement platform for air breakdown to study the variation patterns of electrical and spectral characteristics of air breakdown at different frequencies. The effects and underlying mechanisms of different frequencies (20 Hz, 50 Hz, and 1 kHz) on the breakdown voltage are explored. Experimental results indicate that the air breakdown voltage increases with frequency as follows: from 17.7 kV at 20 Hz to 18.0 kV at 50 Hz (1.7% increase) and further to 18.9 kV at 1 kHz (5.0% increase from 50 Hz), representing a total increase of 6.8% across the 20 Hz to 1 kHz range. Regarding spectral characteristics, the spectral line intensity enhances with an increase in frequency. Compared to 20 Hz and 50 Hz, the spectral lines of nitrogen ions and oxygen ions become distinctly visible at 1 kHz, the Stark broadening phenomenon intensifies, and transitions from higher vibrational energy levels are enhanced relative to those from lower levels. Analysis via the Boltzmann plot method reveals a negative correlation between electron temperature (Te) and frequency, while the ionization degree (η) shows a positive correlation. Concurrently, the electron drift velocity (v_d) increases with frequency, whereas the mean free path decreases (λ). Based on the parallel-plate capacitor model, the air breakdown under the experimental conditions of this study is dominated by collision ionization. As frequency increases, dielectric recovery slows down, and the memory effect strengthens. The interplay between these two competing factors leads to an increase in breakdown voltage with an increase in frequency within the 20 Hz to 1 kHz range. The findings of this study demonstrate that air breakdown exhibits significant frequency dependence, and its breakdown voltage shows statistical distribution characteristics (Weibull parameters) that vary with frequency. This article provides a reference basis for the design of sinusoidal air insulation in the 20 Hz to 1 kHz frequency range. Full article

Acute hyperglycaemia is a common COVID-19 complication linked to adverse outcomes. The combined prognostic value of cytokine activation and acute insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients remains unclear. In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 144 hospitalised adults with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and no prior diabetes. We aimed to characterise metabolic–inflammatory phenotypes and evaluate their association with disease severity and post-discharge glycaemic outcomes. Patients were classified as normoglycaemic or dysglycaemic based on repeated glucose profiles. Dysglycaemic patients were further phenotyped as stress hyperglycaemia (SHG) or newly diagnosed diabetes (NOD). This classification was based on post-discharge glycaemic assessment at 3 and 6 months, distinguishing transient from persistent hyperglycaemia. Admission hyperglycaemia was associated with a consistently elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern. However, cytokine concentrations were comparable between stress hyperglycaemia and newly diagnosed diabetes, indicating that inflammatory burden alone does not explain metabolic persistence. In contrast, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was markedly higher in the newly diagnosed diabetes phenotype. Along with admission oxygenation and key cytokine signals, this contributed to risk stratification for severe disease. In conclusion, early admission assessment of glucose and insulin resistance identifies high-risk metabolic phenotypes. This enables targeted in-hospital risk stratification and post-discharge glycaemic surveillance. Full article

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains clinically challenging, particularly in advanced disease, where treatment resistance limits therapeutic outcomes. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a potential anticancer vulnerability. Galectin-1 (Gal-1/LGALS1), a β-galactoside–binding lectin frequently overexpressed in OSCC, is associated with tumor progression and unfavorable prognosis; however, its involvement in ferroptosis regulation remains incompletely understood. Methods: To investigate whether Triptolide (TPL) influences ferroptosis-associated responses through Gal-1 modulation, OSCC cell lines (SAS and HSC-3) were treated with TPL and analyzed for cell viability, lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression. Publicly available The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were examined to evaluate Gal-1 expression patterns and survival associations. An OSCC xenograft mouse model was further used to assess the antitumor effects of TPL and changes in ferroptosis-related markers in vivo. Results: TPL treatment reduced cell viability and increased lipid ROS accumulation in OSCC cells, accompanied by downregulation of GPX4 expression. Gal-1 expression was also decreased following TPL exposure in vitro and in xenograft tumors. Analysis of TCGA data revealed that elevated Gal-1 expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival in OSCC patients. Conclusions: These findings indicate that TPL induces ferroptosis-associated responses in OSCC and suggest that this effect is partly mediated through modulation of Gal-1 expression. Gal-1 may represent a clinically relevant factor influencing ferroptosis susceptibility, and targeting this pathway warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic strategy for OSCC. Full article

In this study, a bench test was conducted employing the Worldwide Harmonized Light-duty Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) to investigate the emission rates of hydrocarbons (HCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) with two different gasolines and five gasoline vehicles. The results indicated that compared with X gasoline, X+ gasoline led to a reduction in the emission rates of HC, CO, and CO₂, by 38%, 11%, and 7%, respectively, attributed to its lower aromatic hydrocarbon content, olefin content, and 90% evaporation temperature (T90), and higher oxygen content. X+ gasoline exhibited more emission reductions under both acceleration and deceleration conditions. The two gasolines showed consistent patterns: for X+ gasoline, the emission rates under acceleration conditions were significantly higher than those under deceleration conditions, by a factor of 14.9, 2.1, and 1.6 for HC, CO, and CO₂, respectively. Stronger Spearman correlations between vehicle specific power (VSP) and the emission rates were observed at higher speed (>80 km/h) of X, than those at medium speed (40–80 km/h) and lower speed (≤40 km/h), for both gasolines. Overall, the grey relation analysis revealed obvious heterogeneity between each of the seven fuel properties (RON, T10, T50, T90, Oxygen content, Aromatics content, Olefin content) and each of the three emission rates. However, slightly higher relational degrees were observed between HC emissions and aromatics or olefin contents, highlighting the need for lowering aromatics and olefin contents, thus reducing HC emissions. Full article

Lakes are important sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs), but diurnal flux dynamics across different aquatic vegetation habitats are not well quantified, leading to uncertainties in ecosystem-scale budgets. Here, we used high-frequency monitoring (static chamber coupled with Picarro G2301) to examine diurnal CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes at the water–air interface in three habitats—submerged macrophytes (SM), emergent macrophytes (EM), and non-vegetated control (BC)—in the shallow lake (Changshu Emergency Water Source Lake). During the study period, the lake was a consistent net CO₂ sink (mean flux: −17.53 ± 1.64 μmol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) but a net CH₄ source (mean flux: 5.86 ± 1.70 μmol·m⁻²·d⁻¹). Pronounced diel variability was observed: CO₂ uptake was strongly enhanced during the day, whereas CH₄ emissions peaked at night. Vegetation type exerted a strong control on flux magnitudes, with the SM habitat showing the highest CO₂ uptake and the EM habitat the lowest CH₄ emissions. Generalized linear models (GLMs) revealed that the regulatory effects of key environmental drivers (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity) on gas fluxes varied significantly by habitat type and diurnal cycle, exhibiting distinct patterns of differentiation. Our findings highlight that accurate assessment of GHG fluxes from shallow lakes—and thus reliable carbon budgeting—must explicitly account for both diurnal cycles and the distinct regulatory roles of aquatic vegetation types. Full article

Background/Objectives: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use has increased worldwide, yet in-hospital mortality among adult recipients remains substantial. Large-scale evidence examining patient- and treatment-related factors associated with mortality in real-world settings is still limited. This study aimed to quantify in-hospital mortality and identify factors associated with mortality among adults receiving ECMO using a nationwide cohort in Taiwan. Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, including adults (≥18 years) who received ECMO during hospitalization between 2011 and 2020. ECMO indication groups were defined using ICD-9-CM (before 2016) and ICD-10-CM (2016 onward) codes and further classified into four mutually exclusive categories. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 15,151 adults treated with ECMO, 9657 (63.7%) died during hospitalization. In multivariable analyses, higher odds of in-hospital mortality were associated with older age, higher comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3), and use of multiple ECMO machines (≥2). Compared with patients without cardiopulmonary indications, those classified as cardiogenic shock alone or combined respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock had lower adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality. Longer hospital length of stay was inversely associated with in-hospital mortality, reflecting differing care trajectories among ECMO recipients. Conclusions: In this nationwide real-world cohort of adult ECMO recipients, in-hospital mortality was high, and mortality risk was associated with patient age, comorbidity burden, ECMO treatment complexity, and diagnosis-based indication classification. These findings provide population-level insight into mortality patterns and may inform risk communication and system-level planning for ECMO care. Full article

Eight H-bonded salts of arsenic acid and nitrogen bases (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, pyridine-2,6-diamine, pyridin-4-ol, 4-methoxypyridine, 4-methoxyaniline, 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, diethylamine and N¹,N¹,N²,N²-tetraethylethane-1,2-diamine) were studied in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique and DFT calculations. In all cases quite short (≤2.65 Å) OHO bonds were found in the self-assembled supramolecular ribbons or 2D networks of dihydrogen arsenates, constituting a repertoire of five different H-bonding patterns (motifs). The electron localization function maps revealed the spots of the nucleophilic sites on oxygen atoms that determine the preferable directions for H-bonding of H₂AsO₄⁻ anions observed in the crystal packing. Analysis of the electrostatic potential maps for isolated species has demonstrated that upon H-bonding between H₂AsO₄⁻ anions and protonated nitrogen bases, NH⁺⋯⁻OAsO(OH)₂, the redistribution of electron density within the anion provides otherwise virtually non-existent electrophilic sites on hydrogen atoms, which balances the Coulomb repulsion and allows for the anion⋯anion pairing within the crystal. The topological analysis of the calculated crystalline electron density after relaxation of the hydrogen atoms’ positions was used to classify the OHO bonds as moderately strong ones (with an interaction energy up to 65 kJ/mol) and revealed a high degree of ionicity of molecular moieties within ion pairs (with an absolute charge up to 0.87 e). For the strongest OHO and NHO bonds, the noticeable covalent character was shown by using the crystal orbital Hamiltonian population analysis. Full article

Background/Objectives: The retina is enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which are indispensable for normal vision, and recent clinical studies have shown that dietary supplementation of ω-6-and ω-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can provide a protective role against retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Our study aims to understand the mechanisms by which altering ω-6-and ω-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the eye can protect against pathologic retinal neovascularization (NV). Methods: We interrogated the effects of endogenous ω-3-PUFA enrichment using transgenic fat-1 mice which convert ω-6-PUFAs to ω-3-PUFAs in the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) murine model. In the OIR model, mice are exposed to 75% oxygen from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12, then returned to room air (RA). We used a combination of immunofluorescence, bulk retinal RNA sequencing, and lipid mediator profiling by UHPLC-MS/MS in P17 mouse retinas to identify mechanisms underlying the protective effect against NV seen in fat-1 mice exposed to OIR. Results:Fat-1 OIR mice were protected against the development of retinopathy, demonstrating 15.1% less vaso-obliteration (75.5% relative reduction) after OIR and a 6.1% reduction in neovascularization (71.8% relative reduction) at P17 (p < 0.0001 for both). We found a dampened transcriptional response to OIR in the retina of fat-1 mice as compared to WT mouse retinas (198 vs. 782 genes, adjusted p-value < 0.01). Pathway analyses confirmed these findings, with significant OIR-induced transcriptional shifts in angiogenesis (adjusted p-value < 10⁻²⁷), inflammation (adjusted p-value < 10⁻²⁵), and microglial activation pathways (adjusted p-value < 10⁻⁹) in WT mouse retina that were not observed in fat-1 mice. Enrichment scores obtained through the integration of our bulk transcriptomics data with cell-resolved retina data indicate that the protective phenotype observed in fat-1 mice could be associated with intrinsic differences in microglia cell subtypes between WT and fat-1 mice. In situ, WT OIR mice demonstrated an increase in Iba1+ microglia compared to WT RA mice, whereas fat-1 OIR mice showed no difference when compared to fat-1 RA mice. Three ARA-derived oxylipins, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) demonstrated a pattern of upregulation in WT OIR compared to WT RA, but no upregulation in fat-1 OIR mice compared to fat-1 RA. Two EPA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators and two LA-derived oxylipins were also differentially expressed. Conclusions: These findings show that a lower ω-6:ω-3 protects against neovascularization and is associated with attenuation of hyperoxia-induced microglial recruitment and activation, as well as inflammation and angiogenic signaling. Full article

This study investigated the temporal variation and removal efficiency of solid waste, together with the dynamics of water quality parameters and microbial community structure, in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) fed a formulated diet. The average fish weight was 384.62 ± 12.13 g, and the stocking density was 25 kg/m³. The results showed that: (1) the contents of the stomach and intestine exhibited a bimodal pattern, characterized by an initial increase followed by a decrease, and a subsequent secondary increase and decline. In the culture tanks, the total suspended solid (TSS) concentration at the main discharge outlet of the dual-channel bottom drainage system was highest immediately after feeding (0 h), reached its lowest level at 5 h post-feeding, and displayed a double-peak pattern during the 6–24 h post-feeding period. The temporal variations of in-tank TSS and chemical oxygen demand (COD) generally followed the same trend as the TSS concentration at the main discharge outlet. (2) Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) reached its maximum at 7 h, whereas nitrite nitrogen (NO₂⁻-N) peaked at 9 h. (3) The solid–liquid separation efficiencies of the dual-drain system, vertical flow clarifier, and Rotating drum microfilter were 30.40–58.33%, 51.30–76.61%, and 37.04–68.26%, respectively, with the highest removal efficiencies observed at 0 h post-feeding. (4) In the nitrifying biofilter, the TAN concentrations ranged from 0.22–0.99 mg/L at the inlet to 0.15–0.36 mg/L at the outlet. In contrast, NO₂⁻-N concentrations exhibited negligible differences between the inlet and outlet at the corresponding sampling times. At the phylum level, Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, and the superphylum Patescibacteria dominated the biofilter microbial communities. At the genus level, Sediminibacterium and Limnohabitans were predominant in BF_1, whereas taxa affiliated with norank_f__Hyphomicrobiales_ and unclassified_o__Saccharimonadales dominated BF_2. Overall, the results indicated that increasing water circulation and tank flow rate at 0 h and during the 7–14 h post-feeding period may facilitate the timely removal of solid waste, and that the installation of a foam fractionator could contribute to the removal of dissolved and fine organic matter. Full article

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is highly sensitive to low temperature, which severely restricts its cultivation and industrial development. MYB transcription factors serve as key regulators in plant responses to cold stress. In this study, an R2R3-MYB gene DlMYB108 was cloned from ‘Shixia’ longan. Sequence analysis showed that DlMYB108 contains two typical MYB repeats and shares high homology with cold-responsive MYB108 proteins from other plants. Expression pattern analysis revealed that DlMYB108 is highly expressed in young leaves, which are more sensitive to cold stress, and is significantly induced by low-temperature treatment. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activation assays confirmed that DlMYB108 is a nuclear-localized transcriptional activator. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that DlMYB108 specifically binds to the promoters of DlCBF2 and DlCBF3 and activates their transcription. Heterologous expression of DlMYB108 in Arabidopsis significantly enhanced cold tolerance, accompanied by reduced ion leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, as well as upregulated expression of CBF and cold-responsive genes. Collectively, DlMYB108 positively regulates longan cold tolerance through activating DlCBF2 and DlCBF3 expression, providing a valuable candidate gene for cold-tolerant longan breeding. Full article

Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a major contributor to infarct expansion and adverse cardiac remodeling despite advances in timely reperfusion therapy. Although restoration of blood flow is essential for myocardial salvage, the abrupt transition from ischemia to reperfusion paradoxically exacerbates cardiomyocyte injury through profound metabolic, ionic, and mitochondrial disturbances. Reperfusion should be viewed not simply as restoration of blood flow, but as a critical biological transition that converts ischemic stress into a self-amplifying injury network. Reperfusion induces excessive reactive oxygen species generation, calcium overload, endothelial barrier disruption, and dysregulated innate immune activation, which converge on mitochondrial dysfunction and diverse forms of cell death, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Emerging evidence highlights that these pathological processes are tightly interconnected through damage-associated molecular pattern signaling, microvascular leakage, and inflammatory amplification, underscoring the limitations of single-target therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying myocardial I/R injury with a particular focus on oxidative stress, immune modulation, vascular integrity, and ferroptosis. We further discuss current and emerging cardioprotective strategies, including antioxidant therapies, modulation of neutrophil recruitment, microvascular leakage blockade, and anti-ferroptotic interventions. Finally, we address key translational challenges and future perspectives for developing integrated cardioprotective therapies aimed at improving clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction. Full article

Environmental pollutants are persistent chemicals that pose substantial risks to human health, contributing to global mortality and economic burden. In real-world situations, exposure rarely occurs to single compounds; instead, people are chronically exposed to complex mixtures at low concentrations. However, most regulatory frameworks still rely on single-substance risk assessments, potentially underestimating the hazards associated with combined exposures. This study investigated the cytotoxic interactions of binary mixtures of five environmentally relevant pollutants: bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), using the human lymphoblast cell line NALM-6. Cells were exposed for 72 h to each compound individually and to all possible binary combinations, reflecting concentrations reported in human plasma or serum. Cell viability was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and interactions were analyzed using the Bliss model of independence and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Intracellular reactive oxygen species were measured using the 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe to explore the involvement of oxidative stress. Synergistic interactions were observed under specific conditions, although not all statistically identified interactions corresponded to biologically significant effects. The BPA-DBP combination produced the highest cytotoxicity when both pollutants were present at 100 nM (31%), consistent with a strong synergistic effect. A similar pattern was observed for BADGE-BPA. ROS production was partially associated with cytotoxicity in these selected mixtures. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of distinguishing statistical synergy from toxicological relevance. Full article